Senator Rodante Marcoleta said there are no clear coordinates defining the West Philippine Sea (WPS) or the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone (EEZ), suggesting the country should first determine these before asserting its maritime claims.
“Wala po talagang malinaw na coordinates kung ano ba talaga ang pinaka-area ng ating West Philippine Sea o Exclusive Economic Zone. Siguro magsimula po tayo doon.”
Rating: False
Why this is false
The Philippines’ exclusive economic zone is clearly defined under international law and Philippine law, and its geographic limits can be expressed in precise coordinates.
Under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), which the Philippines ratified in 1984, a coastal state’s EEZ extends up to 200 nautical miles from its baselines. These baselines are not abstract concepts — they are established through legislation and plotted using latitude and longitude.
These baselines are defined under Republic Act No. 9522 (2009), which amended the country’s earlier baselines law to align with UNCLOS. From these baselines, the country’s maritime zones — including the EEZ — are measured.
What the West Philippine Sea refers to
The West Philippine Sea is the official Philippine name for parts of the South China Sea that fall within the country’s EEZ and continental shelf. This designation was formalized through Administrative Order No. 29 (2012).
While “West Philippine Sea” is a political and administrative naming, the maritime entitlements it refers to are grounded in international law, not merely in terminology or map labels.
The absence or presence of the name “West Philippine Sea” on certain international maps does not affect the legal existence or geographic definition of the Philippines’ EEZ.
International affirmation
In 2016, an arbitral tribunal constituted under UNCLOS ruled in favor of the Philippines in its case against China. The ruling affirmed that several maritime areas in the West Philippine Sea fall within the Philippines’ EEZ and that China’s so-called “nine-dash line” has no legal basis.
This ruling necessarily relied on clearly defined maritime zones, contradicting claims that there are no identifiable or clear coordinates for the area.
Expert reactions
Legal experts, including former Supreme Court Associate Justice Antonio Carpio, have repeatedly emphasized that the Philippines’ EEZ is clearly determinable using internationally accepted methods and coordinates.
Disputes arise not because the area is undefined, but because other states challenge or refuse to recognize the Philippines’ lawful entitlements.
Bottom line
Marcoleta’s statement is misleading and factually incorrect.
Philippines’ EEZ — including areas referred to as the West Philippine Sea — has clear legal and geographic definition under UNCLOS and Philippine law.
The issue is not the absence of coordinates, but the violation of the Philippines’ maritime rights by other states.
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